PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 28: Hezly Rivera of Team United States looks on during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Qualification on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Getty Images
According to USA Gymnastics, Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera will not compete at the U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 18 in Hartford, Conn. The event serves as a final qualifier for the August U.S. Championships, where Rivera is expected to defend her title.
The 18-year-old’s absence follows a history of injuries, including a hamstring issue that forced her withdrawal at the 2026 Pan American Championships in May. While the decision to skip the U.S. Classic is described as precautionary, it underscores ongoing challenges in managing her competitive schedule.
In 2025, Rivera reestablished herself as a top contender by winning her first senior U.S. title and securing gold medals in bars, beam, and floor exercise. Her achievements marked a historic milestone, making her the first gymnast since 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber to claim national titles at both junior and senior levels.
Her 2025 season ended abruptly due to an ankle injury ahead of the World Championship Team Selection event. Team USA’s subsequent performance at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta was its weakest since 2001, with only two medals secured.
Rivera rebounded in 2026, winning the Winter Cup in February and contributing to a silver medal at the American Cup in March. Her withdrawal from the Pan American Championships raised concerns but may signal a strategic approach to prioritize long-term health and August’s U.S. Championships. Coaches Valeri and Anna Liukin at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) have not commented.
Rivera, a member of WOGA’s decorated legacy alongside athletes like Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson, aims to secure back-to-back national titles. Success would align her with U.S. gymnastics legends such as Simone Biles and Shawn Johnson, who have won multiple senior national championships.
